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Damien keeps on running

DAMIEN Grace has set his sights on 1,000 appearances at Swindon Parkrun after reaching the 150 mark at the weekend.

The 32-year-old first tried the event, held in Lydiard Park every Saturday morning, in March 2011 after being convinced to go by a friend, and he hasn’t looked back since.

Grace couldn’t mark Saturday’s milestone with a personal best, finishing 50 seconds outside his best of 18.52, but is still determined to carry on and reach four figures having been truly bitten by the Parkrun bug.

“I was first introduced to it by a friend of mine but I wasn’t that interested in it at first because my distance is more the half marathon, so maybe it was a bit short.

“He finally talked me into going and after I went once it was quite addictive and it’s just what I do every week.

“It’s such a well-organised event with a good atmosphere, so it’s a pleasure to keep going .

“There are plenty of people who go most weeks and I think maybe one who has done more than me, but he runs round with his kids so his times aren’t quite as good.

“But to reach 150 is pretty good and I really haven’t missed any at all, I’ve always enjoyed going.

“People laugh when I saw it but I would love to get the thousand up to be honest, you need a bit of luck and it would take 12 years or so but I would love to do it.

Such is Damien’s commitment to the run, he also took part on his wedding day last August.

“The wedding wasn’t until the afternoon so I thought I may as well go in the morning, it was quite a nice way to start the day,” he said.

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